R290 - a flammable gas for refrigeration

A brief Look at R290 for refrigeration

From a chemical standpoint, R290 is what is known as a hydrocarbon. However, the main use of this flammable gas is as a refrigerant for household appliances (such as the common refrigerator). R290 is one of the most well-known refrigerants to be used and due to several properties, it is considered to be preferable over older alternatives. Let us take a look at this substance in a bit more detail.

Beneficial Properties

Although few may be aware of this fact, R290 is actually classified as a type of propane that is known as a "dry" isopropane. As it is quite pure in its chemical composition, there is no potential for ozone depletion (should it enter into the atmosphere) and it is also said to have a negligible effect on global warming. Thus, R290 is quite safe from an environmental standpoint. This is one of the primary reasons that it is commonly employed as a refrigerant in household appliances. Furthermore, R290 can be used as a replacement for older hydrocarbon coolants such as R-12, R-22 and R-134a. So, R290 is also seen as being quite a universal refrigerant.

Concerns

R290 is a member of the propane family, so it is highly flammable. Therefore, only those with proper qualifications should work with this gas. As it is heavier than air, the bulk of its concentration will always occur at lower levels (such as the floor). This needs to be taken into account when working around electrical equipment close to the ground that may inadvertently cause a spark; increasing the chances for accidental combustion. Also, R290 is toxic to humans and unintentional inhalation can have serious health effects. However, there are few risks that will be posed if the gas is handled with the proper safety measures in mind.

Thanks to the environmentally friendly aspects of this "pure" form of propane, R290 is one of the most commonly used refrigerants within household appliances. It is a viable replacement for older coolants and it can be expected that R290 will continue to be used in this manner into the foreseeable future.

Author: Devina Pareen

Devina Pareen is the only child of two doctors, who were originally from Pakistan. She grew up in Bradford but always wanted to escape to the bright lights down South. Devina took a degree in Economics at Bristol University, then worked for a finance company in Bath for 5 years. At the age of 26, she decided to take a gap year to travel across Asia, and never went back to her old career. Devina's photos of her travels became a popular blog in both the UK and Pakistan, which led to her writing travel articles for online journals.

Devina lives in Brighton with her partner Constance and their two house rabbits Gabriel and Marianne. She trys to swim in the sea most days, even if just for 5 minutes. Devina enjoys indulging her creative side with free form crochet and machine embroidery but as there is now no more room for any more cushions in their house, she sometimes sells her colourful makes at charity sales.